Alcala de Henares

Alcalá de Henares, meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city whose historical center is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The city stands out for its rich archaeology and was one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain. Located in the Community of Madrid, 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of the city of Madrid, at an altitude of 588 m (1,929 ft) above sea level, it has a population of around 200,000. Locally, the city is generally known simply as "Alcalá", but "de Henares" is appended when needed to differentiate it from a dozen Spanish cities sharing the name Alcalá (from the Arabic word al-qal'a القلعة for fortification or citadel). The Latin name, Complutum, is sometimes used. The city is capital of its namesake region, Comarca de Alcalá.

It is the birthplace of the illustrious Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote”, and home to one of the most prestigious universities in Spain. Its rich monumental heritage, formed by churches, convents and university buildings, gives us a glimpse of life in Castilia during the Spanish Golden Age.

What a charming little town.  The city center is wonderful.  Full of people and life, protests, weddings, kids playing, people chatting, lunching.  What a city should be.  Pedestrian area for the most part and a beautiful rose garden and trees lining the sides, all nice and shady.  Cafes all around, shops, etc.  

There were FOUR weddings: 1 finished at city hall, one finished at another building (not sure what it was) but the parties were apparently big bicycle people, as noted by their attendees (some of them, at least) who showed up in their little tight lycra thingies.  Then another one finished at a church, and they were outside getting the photos done, and another wedding was processing in around the corner in the front.  Marriage is alive and well in Spain.  And OMG the fashion police should have been there.  Madre Mia some of these dresses!  Yikes! Whatever makes mama happy...

Notice the iconic Don Quijote and windmill art in the background.

Protestors camped out, outside the city hall, I think.  "No people without houses, no houses without people."  Did some searching and it's the People's Solidarity Network, apparently all over Spain.  It sounds a lot like Occupy Wall Street.  This is a Google translation:   "...to jointly intervene to meet the basic needs of the people that the state has left absolutely unprotected by anti-democratic policies of the right, and capital and, in turn, create awareness among these people class, people power and counteract the power and damage that fascism is causing their charitable actions and populist message."

Girl, please.

Wedding #1.

Wedding #2.

Wedding #3.

Walking down the street, I kept hearing VERY loud birds singing their asses off.  Looked up and found this.  They love their budgies!

Very cool statues of Sancho Panza and Don Quijote.  Remember, Cervantes was born here!

And she attended Wedding #4.

And I believe this has to be the madre of the bride in  wedding #4.  Oh, that dress.